Image forming apparatus including a finished image display unit

ABSTRACT

A finished-image generating unit generates a finished image showing a result of a process performed on a target image according to various function setting items. A finished-image display unit, when the target image extends to a plurality of pages, forms the finished image in a stack, and displays the stacked finished image on a display unit with a page structure image that shows an overall page structure of the stacked finished image. A page moving unit, when one of the pages constituting the page structure image is specified via an operating unit, executes a page moving from a page currently displayed on the display unit to the specified page.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present document incorporates by reference the entire contents ofJapanese priority documents, 2005-267165 filed in Japan on Sep. 14,2005, and 2006-196203 filed in Japan Jul. 18, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and acomputer product.

2. Description of the Related Art

In using an image processing apparatus, such as a copier, fax machine,printer, and a multi function product (MFP) having combined functions ofcopying, faxing, printing, a user has to selects a function to executefrom functions the image processing apparatus offers, and to makesetting for desired functional contents. For example, the user needs tomake setting on the condition of a document, such as the type and thedensity of the document, on various image processes, such as zoom,single-side/double-side printing, and margin size adjustment, and onpostprocessing, such as sorting, stapling, and punching.

A conventional image processing apparatus provides enormous numbers ofsetting items and a plurality of setting contents for each item to allowa user to execute a variety of setting. The user, who wants to obtain adesired result, selects a type of setting out of those enormous settingitems and contents.

The user, however, has no way to know what kind of a process result toreceive according to setting contents in using the conventional imageprocessing apparatus. For example, the user has to wait for actualprint-out from the image processing apparatus to know a print result forthe user. The obtained print result often ends up in a kind of finishedproduct that the user does not expect to get.

To solve the above problem, some apparatuses and systems have beenproposed, which include a preview display apparatus (see, for example,Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-5471) that displays apreview image showing the state of a printed result, an image processingapparatus (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2002-103726) that displays a preview image showing image data printed ona paper corresponding to selected paper image data when the paper imagedata to express a paper style of a different paper quality is selected,and an image forming system (see, for example, Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 1999-234503) that displays a preview image ofdata made by synthesizing a plurality of edited and processed imagedata.

These conventional techniques offer a function of only displaying apreview of a single image, or an image synthesized from a plurality ofimages, that shows the result of image processes executed according tosetting contents.

A user checks such preview images to make setting again for correction,which allows the user to perform setting operation while checking animage for a finished condition before proceeding to a print-out process,and finally obtain desired image output.

Those conventional techniques, however, have such a disadvantage inusability that a paging operation is required to turn pages one by oneto find the overall structure of an image consisting of a plurality ofpages or to find a specific image to check when the image consists of anumber of pages of images, because each of the above conventionaltechniques features only the function of displaying a preview of asingle image or an image synthesized from a plurality of images thatshows the result of image processes executed according to settingcontents.

In actual work of finding an object page in an image file consisting ofa plurality of pages displayed on a display unit, a user often desiresto find such a specific page that bears the turn of chapters ordiagrams. A conventional method, however, forces the user to turn pagesone by one to find the specific page. This costs the user a lot oftrouble and time when the object page is separated far from a page tostart turning, thus poses a problem that check work is cumbersome andinefficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to at least partially solve theproblems in the conventional technology.

An image processing apparatus according to one aspect of the presentinvention includes a finished-image generating unit that generates afinished image showing a result of a process performed on a target imageaccording to various function setting items; a finished-image displayunit that, when the target image extends to a plurality of pages, formsthe finished image in a stack, and displays the stacked finished imageon a display unit with a page structure image that shows an overall pagestructure of the stacked finished image; and a page moving unit that,when one of the pages constituting the page structure image is specifiedvia an operating unit, executes a page moving from a page currentlydisplayed on the display unit to the specified page.

A computer program product according to another aspect of the presentinvention includes a computer usable medium having computer readableprogram codes embodied in the medium that when executed causes acomputer to execute generating a finished image showing a result of aprocess performed on a target image according to various functionsetting items; finished-image displaying including, when the targetimage extends to a plurality of pages, forming the finished image in astack, and displaying the stacked finished image on a display unit witha page structure image that shows an overall page structure of thestacked finished image; and executing, when one of the pagesconstituting the page structure image is specified via an operatingunit, a page moving from a page currently displayed on the display unitto the specified page.

The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical andindustrial significance of this invention will be better understood byreading the following detailed description of presently preferredembodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the main components of an image processingapparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of one example of display on a display screen ofa display operating unit;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the procedure flow of an image display processexecuted when page-to-page moving is carried out;

FIGS. 4 to 8 are front views of examples of a display on the displayscreen of the display operating unit;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the hardware configuration of the imageprocessing apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a schematic structural example of aprinting system according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the schematic structure of a PC;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the schematic structure of a printer;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the main components of the PC; and

FIG. 14 is a front view of one example of a display screen produced by aprinter driver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be explained indetail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Since theembodiments to be described below are provided as the preferredembodiments according to the present invention, various limitationspreferable in terms of technical purposes are added to the embodiments.The scope of the present invention, however, is not limited to thedescription of the embodiments to follow unless the followingdescription presents any particular statement that limits the scope ofthe invention.

A first embodiment of the present invention represents a case where anMFP is used as an image processing apparatus. The MFP has combinedfunctions of copying, faxing, printing, scanning, and of distributing aninput image (read document image given by a scanner function, inputimage given by a printer or fax function, etc.).

Each of FIGS. 1 to 14 is a graphic diagram of the first embodiment ofthe image processing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG.1 is a block diagram of the main components of an image processingapparatus 1 to which the first embodiment of the image processingapparatus according to the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 1 includes a controlunit 2, an image reading unit 3, an image storing unit 4, an imageprocessing unit 5, a printing unit 6, and a display operating unit 7.Each unit is interconnected via a bus 8. The image processing apparatus1 can be used as a fax machine, copier, printer, compound machine, etc.

The control unit 2 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read onlymemory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM). The CPU controls eachunit of the image processing apparatus 1 on the basis of programs storedin the ROM, using the RAM as a work memory, and executes processes to becarried out by the image processing apparatus 1, and also executes afinished image display process and a paging operation process, whichwill be described later.

The image reading unit 3 reads an image on a document by emitting lighton the document on transfer or standing still and causing aphotoelectric conversion element, such as a charge coupled device (CCD),to photoelectrically convert reflected light from the document. When theimage reading unit 3 is provided with an automatic document feeder(ADF), the image reading unit 3 reads an image on a document sent to theimage reading unit 3 as documents are set on the ADF and are transferredto the image reading unit 3 one by one.

The image storing unit 4 consists of a hard disc (HD) or alarge-capacity RAM, etc., and stores document image data, which is readby the image reading unit 3, and image data, which is processed by theimage processing unit 5, in the form of image files on a file-to-filebasis.

The image processing unit 5 exerts a hardware function using animage-processing large-scale integrated-circuit (LSI) or exerts asoftware function using an image processing program to execute variousimage processes on image data stored in the image storing unit 4. Theimage processes include, for example, such image quality adjustingprocesses as zoom and sharpness adjustment. Particularly, under controlby the control unit 2, the image processing unit 5 executes a finishedimage making process in accordance with setting contents set at thedisplay operating unit 7, which will be described later.

The printing unit 6 has, for example, an engine unit that prints out animage on a paper by an electrophotographic method, and a post-processingdevice that carries out a post-process of punching, stapling, etc. onthe paper bearing the image printed by the engine unit. Based on imagedata having undergone a final image process by the image processing unit5, the engine unit of the printing unit 6 prints out an image on apaper, print-out being carried out in a print condition according tosetting contents set at the display operating unit 7. Thepost-processing unit of the printing unit 6 carries out apost-processing on the paper bearing the printed image, thepost-processing being carried out in a post-process condition accordingto process setting made at the display operating unit 7. The engine unitmay employ various printing methods other than the electrophotographicmethod, such as ink-jet method, sublimation-type heat transfer method,silver salt photographic method, direct thermographic method, andmelt-type heat transfer method.

The display operating unit (operating unit, display unit) 7 has avariety of operating keys necessary for operating the image processingapparatus 1, and a display screen (display unit) 7 a, which consists of,for example, a crystal display. A touch panel is arranged on the displayscreen 7 a (see FIG. 2). The display operating unit 7 displays afinished image, a frame-line collection image, etc. on the displayscreen 7 a. The finished image is a result of a finished image processby the image processing unit 5 on an image file from the image storingunit 4, and the frame-line collection image is given as a page structureimage showing the overall page structure of the finished image. Thedisplay operating unit 7 also displays a variety of setting buttons,etc. needed for process setting. When the touch panel is touched foroperation according to such a display on the display screen 7 a,position information of a touched spot is reported to the control unit2.

FIG. 2 is a model view of one example of display on the display screen 7a of the display operating unit 7. Process subject images (finishedimages) 10, 11 and function setting items (menu items) 9 are displayedon the display screen 7 a of the display operating unit 7. The functionsetting items (menu items) 9 includes a menu 9 a made up of menu itemsof staple, punch, binding margin adjustment, frame delete, stamp, pagenumber, etc., execution of which depends on a place on the processsubject images (finished images) 10, 11. The menu 9 a is displayed atthe right on the display screen 7 a. The function setting items 9 alsoincludes a menu 9 b made up of menu items of output color, outputdensity, paper, zoom, single-side/double-side, combining, sort/stack,background, etc., execution of which does not depend on image contents.The menu 9 b is displayed at the left on the display screen 7 a.

Upon receiving a report on touch position information, the control unit2 executes a command process corresponding to the touch position.

As described above, the image processing unit 5 carries out an imageprocess according to setting contents set at the display operating unit7. The image processing unit 5 also generates a finished image, whichrepresents an image that has been printed out by the printing unit 6 ina specific condition according to setting contents set at the displayoperating unit 7 and that has subsequently undergone a post-process in aspecific post-process condition according to process setting made at thedisplay operating unit 7. In addition, the image processing unit 5generates a frame-line collection image as a page structure imageshowing the overall page structure of the finished image.

The image processing unit 5 sequentially carries out an image process onimage data on each page of a process subject image file stored in theimage storing unit 4 according to process setting at the displayoperating unit 7, and makes a finished image 10 (see FIG. 2), whichrepresents an image that results when a print process and a post-processaccording to setting contents at the display operating unit 7 arecarried out on the image data subjected to the image process by theimage processing unit 5 (finished-image generating unit). The controlunit 2 stores the finished image 10 made by the image processing unit 5in the image storing unit 4. The finished image 10 represents an imagethat has been subjected to the image process by the image processingunit 5 according to the setting contents at the display operating unit7, that has been subjected to the print-out process by the printing unit6 on the image having undergone the image process according to thesetting contents at the display operating unit 7, and that has beensubjected to the post-process by the printing unit 6 according to thesetting contents at the display operating unit 7.

After making each page of the finished image 10 for each page of theimage file, the image processing unit 5 lines up each page of thefinished image 10 in a given direction at every a given interval, thatis, for example, lines up each page of the finished image 10 in ashifted arrangement to the right of the finished image 10. This meansthat the image processing unit 5 makes a frame-line collection image 10a (see FIG. 2) sidewise at the right of a displayed page, where theframe-line collection image 10 a shows page frames that are arranged atevery an equal interval in correspondence in number to the pages of theimage file (finished-image generating unit). In addition, the imageprocessing unit 5 makes a paged finished image 11 (see FIG. 2), whichshows the state of the finished image 10 at the point that a page of thefinished image 10 has been turned by the paging operation, and alsomakes a frame-line collection image 11 a (see FIG. 2), which shows thepage frames that correspond in number to turned pages represented by thepaged finished image 11 and that are arranged sidewise at every an equalinterval at the left of the paged finished images 11 (finished-imagegenerating unit). The frame-line collection image 10 a, the pagedfinished image 11, and the frame-line collection image 11 a, which aremade by the image processing unit 5, are stored in the image storingunit 4. The paged finished image 11 is, for example, an imagerepresenting a turned over paper recording an image thereon. When thefinished image 10 results from double-side printing for printing imageson both sides of a paper, the paged finished image 11 shows an image onthe back side of the paper bearing double-side images.

The finished image 10 obtained from the image file through a finishingprocess may have many pages, which increases the number of the framelines of the frame-line collection images 10 a, 11 a to make itimpossible to display the frame-line collection images 10 a, 11 a withinthe display screen 7 a, or render a page specifying operation difficult.In such a case, a page moving number assigned to one frame line is notassigned as one page, but as a plurality of pages of two, three, etc.Specifically, the page moving number is assigned as a proportionalnumber of pages given in consideration of the total page number of afinished image and operability in specifying a page. When the pagemoving number assigned to one frame line is assigned as a plurality ofpages, the image processing unit 5 assigns the page moving number of onepage to the innermost frame line of each of the frame-line collectionimages 10 a, 11 a so that one page is turned forward or backward to thenext page or to the previous page.

The control unit 2, as described above, delivers the finished image 10,the frame-line collection image 10 a thereof, the necessary pagedfinished image 11, and the frame-line collection image 11 a thereof,which are made by the image processing unit 5 and are stored in theimage storing unit 4, to the display operating unit 7. As shown in FIG.2, the control unit 2 then causes the display operating unit 7 todisplay the finished image 10, the frame-line collection image 10 athereof, the necessary paged finished image 11, and the frame-linecollection image 11 a thereof, on the display screen 7 a (finished-imagedisplay unit). The control unit 2 normally causes the display operatingunit 7 to display the first page of the finished image 10 on an initialdisplay screen for the finished image 10.

On the display screen shown in FIG. 2, the pages of a process subjectfile stored in the image storing unit 4 is turned to the middle of thefile, and a page of the finished image 10 for one page at the middle ofthe file is displayed. At the right of the finished image 10, theframe-line collection image 10 a is displayed, which consists of framelines corresponding in number to the rest of the unturned pages of theimage file. Also displayed on the display screen is the paged finishedimage 11 which shows a blank back face indicating a turned page, thatis, the paged finished image 11 which is given when no back face imageis produced. At the left of the paged finished image 11, the frame-linecollection image 11 a is displayed, which consists of frame linescorresponding in number to the turned pages of the image file. Thefinished image 10 does not necessarily represent only one page, but mayrepresent spread two pages. In such a case, the paged finished image 11becomes unnecessary.

The touch panel of the display operating unit 7 is arranged on thedisplay screen 7 a of the display operating unit 7. When an operatortouches the panel at a desired position (coordinates) on the finishedimage 10, the control unit 2 displays a given number of process settingitems on the display screen 7 a of the display operating unit 7, wherethe setting items have been preset at the position on the finished image10 that corresponds to the touch position. When a preset value is givento a setting item selected from the process setting items, the controlunit 2 causes the image processing unit 5 to execute again a necessaryimage process and finished image making process on the basis of theselected process setting, and causes the display operating unit 7 todisplay a remade finished image 10 on the display screen 7 a in themanner as described above. These touch operation on the finished image10, setting operation for the process setting, and remaking and displayof the finished image 10 according to the newly set process setting arecarried out sequentially.

When a user sees the finished image 10 and presses a start key (notshown) indicating the start of copying on the display operating unit 7,the control unit 2 reads an image file, which is subjected to an imageprocess according to a finally set process setting, out of the imagestoring unit 4, and delivers the image file to the printing unit 6. Theprinting unit 6 prints out an image on a paper in a print conditionaccording to the finally set process setting, and carries out apost-process on the paper bearing the printed image in a post-processcondition according to the finally set process setting.

The effect obtained from the present embodiment will now be described.The image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodimentdisplays a finished image of an image file consisting of a plurality ofpages in such a way that moving from a displayed page to a target pageof the finished image can be carried out quickly.

A page moving unit is described for a case where a user touches a frameline corresponding to a target page on the touch panel on the frame-linecollection images 10 a, 11 a displayed on the display screen 7 a as theuser displays the finished images 10, 11 and carries out a processsetting operation. In this case, the control unit (page moving unit) 2detects a page corresponding to a touch position by calculating theorder in line-up of the touched frame line from the innermost frame lineon the basis of the page moving number assigned to the touched frameline, retrieves a page of the finished image 10 for the target pagecorresponding to the detected page from the image storing unit 4, andcauses the display operating unit 7 to display the retrieved page of thefinished image 10 on the display screen 7 a. The control unit 2 theninforms the image processing unit 5 of the target page to cause theimage processing unit 5 to make new frame-line collection images 10 a,11 a on the basis of remaining unturned pages and turned pages resultingfrom opening of the target page. The newly made frame-line collectionimages 10 a, 11 a are displayed on the display screen 7 a.

To turn forward or turn backward only one page, a user touches theinnermost frame line of the frame-line collection image 10 a or 11 a.When the innermost frame line of the frame-line collection image 10 a or11 a is touched, the control unit 2 judges only one-page paging forwardor backward operation has been carried out, and reads a page of thefinished image 10 or 11, which is the next or previous page to thecurrently displayed page, out of the image storing unit 4 to display theread out page of the finished image 10 or 11 on the display screen 7 a.Subsequently, the control unit 2 causes the image processing unit 5 toremake necessary frame-line collection images 10 a, 11 a, and displaythe remade frame-line collection images 10 a, 11 a on the display screen7 a.

Image display processes executed by the image processing apparatus 1includes an image display process that is executed when the page movingis carried out by specifying areas formed both at left/right of adisplayed page. Such an image display process is described withreference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, at thestart of the flowchart, the image processing apparatus 1 drives theimage reading unit 3 and waits for reading of documents by the imagereading unit 3 (step S101). Specifically, when a user sets a pluralityof documents on the ADF of the image reading unit 3 for copying, makesnecessary process setting for every process setting item on the displayoperating unit 7, and presses the start key, the image processingapparatus 1 drives the image reading unit 3 so that the documents aresent one by one from the ADF to the image reading unit 3, which readsimages on the documents sequentially. The control unit 2 stores thedocument image data read by the image reading unit 3 in the imagestoring unit 4. When all document image data are read, the control unit2 manages all document image data as one process subject file.

When the documents are read (Yes at step S101), the image processingapparatus 1 sets a displayed page to an initial value “1” (step S102),and displays a set page (finished image and frame-line collection image)on the display screen 7 a of the display operating unit (display unit) 7(step S103).

When a desired coordinate on the displayed set page (finished image andframe-line collection image) is specified via the display operating unit(display unit) 7 to allow the image processing apparatus 1 to obtain aninput coordinate (Yes at step S104), the image processing apparatus 1judges on which of the right/left areas is specified (step S105, S106).

Upon judging that the right area has been specified on the basis of theinput coordinate (Yes at step S105), the image processing apparatus 1calculates the amount of forward moving (step S107), sets a page todisplay based on the direction (forward) and amount of moving (stepS109), and displays a new set page (finished image and frame-linecollection image) on the display screen 7 a of the display operatingunit (display unit) 7 (step S103).

Upon judging that the left area has been specified on the basis of theinput coordinate (Yes at step S106), the image processing apparatus 1calculates the amount of backward moving (step S108), sets a page todisplay based on the direction (backward) and amount of moving (stepS109), and displays a new set page (finished image and frame-linecollection image) on the display screen 7 a of the display operatingunit (display unit) 7 (step S103).

Thus, the image processing apparatus 1 determines an amount of movingbased on a position coordinate in the left/right areas, and decides onwhether to turn forward or turn backward a page depending on which ofthe left/right areas has been specified.

When the finished image 10 consists of a plurality of pages, the imageprocessing apparatus 1 displays the finished image 10 with the pagesstacked up on the display screen 7 a upon displaying the finished image10 on the display screen 7 a of the display operating unit 7 afterproducing the finished image 10 by carrying out a variety of processeson a process subject image according to setting contents. The imageprocessing apparatus 1 also displays a page structure image showing theoverall page structure of the finished image 10. The page structureimage is displayed as frame-line collection images 10 a, 11 a, which areimages of collection of a given number of frame lines each representingthe number of pages in a given proportion to the total page number ofthe finished images 10, 11. When a specifying operation is executed onthe frame-line collection image 10 a or 11 a by touching the touch panelof the display operating unit 7, the image processing apparatus 1carries out the page moving from a currently displayed page to a pagespecified by the specifying operation on the frame-line collectionimages 10 a, 11 a.

The image processing apparatus 1, therefore, allows a user to carry outthe page moving from a displayed page to a desired target page by asimple operation while checking the overall page structure of thefinished image 10. This enables simple and quick paging operation andchecking on the finished image 10 to offer improved usability.

According to the image processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment,the image processing unit 5 generates a finished image having finishedthrough a series of processes according to setting contents, whichincludes the image process, printing out of an image having undergonethe image process, and the post-process on the paper bearing the printedimage. The image processing unit 5 provides such a finished image as thefinished image 10.

A user, therefore, is allowed to check the finished image 10 for theresult of the series of processes, thus allowed to execute a specificsetting operation to obtain an intended process result.

The image processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment restructuresthe frame-line collection images 10 a, 11 a to give them a pagestructure having a displayed page of a destination page and displays therestructured frame-line collection images 10 a, 11 a when the pagemoving from a currently displayed page to a page specified by aspecifying operation is carried out.

The frame-line collection images 10 a, 11 a restructured in accordancewith the page moving allows proper understanding of the overall pagestructure of the finished image 10, which offers further improvedusability.

According to the image processing apparatus 1, the frame-line collectionimages 10 a, 11 a are composed of collected frame lines that are locateddiagonally below in parallel with the finished images 10, 11, where theupper and lower sides of the frame lines are also parallel with thefinished images 10, 11. When any one of the upper, lateral, and lowersides of one of the collected frame line is touched, the page moving toa page assigned to the touched frame line results. A graphic expressionof the frame-line collection images and a function given to the framelines composing frame-line collection images, however, are not limitedto the expression and function that are described above.

For example, sloped frame lines 10 c, 11 c shown in FIG. 4 are anotherform of frame lines to be provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the sloped framelines 10 c, 11 c are given by sloping down the upper sides of theoutermost frames of the frame-line collection images (10 a, 11 a) shownin FIG. 2 from the frame line side front ends of the upper sides of thefinished images 10, 11 so that the sloped lines made by the upper sidesof the outermost frames cross the lower sides of the outermost frames.This means that each of the sloped frame lines 10 c, 11 c forming theframe-line collection image represents the total page number of thefinished image 10 (11) in the form of a line segment image extending ina given direction on the periphery of the finished image 10 (11). Inthis case, one page for paging forward or paging backward is assigned tothe innermost frame line for use in only one-page paging forward orpaging backward. The page moving numbers for the frame lines other thanthe innermost frame line are assigned in consideration of the total pagenumber of an image file and operability in specifying a page. On each ofthe sloped frame lines 10 c, 11 c constituting an elongated side, a pageassigned to the lateral side of each frame is assigned to the connectionpoint between the sloped frame line and each lateral side. The number ofpages between each page assigned at the connection point between thesloped frame line and each frame line lateral side are assigned equallyto every line segment between one connection point and anotherconnection point on the sloped frame lines 10 c, 11 c. This means thatpages are assigned to the sloped frame lines 10 c, 11 c from their topsto be arranged in such a proportion that the length of each of thesloped frame lines 10 c, 11 c corresponds to the total page number ofthe finished image 10. In this arrangement, the final page or the headpage is assigned to the lower side of the outermost frame.

According to the frame-line collection images 10 a, 11 a shown in FIG.4, therefore, touching the lateral side or lower side of each frameenables the page moving to a page assigned to a touched frame. Inaddition, touching the sloped frame line 10 c or 11 c enables specifyingof a page assigned to a touch position on the sloped frame line 10 c or11 c. If the touch position is moved while contact with the sloped frameline 10 c or 11 c is maintained, a specified page can be changedconsecutively at short intervals.

In FIG. 4, the frame line lateral sides and frame line lower sides aredepicted in a specific number determined by assigning the total pagenumber of the finished image 10 to a given number of frame lines.Another method may be employed to replace these frame line lateral sidesand frame line lower sides with light and shade patterns correspondingto the total page number, which are formed in the right triangle drawnby each of the sloped frame lines 10 c, 11 c and the outermost frameline lower side.

According to the image processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment,the frame-line collection images 10 a, 11 a consist of frame linesarranged diagonally below the finished image 10 at equal intervals. Thearrangement of frame lines, however, is not limited to the above manner.

For example, the frames may be arranged in the manner as frame-linecollection images 10 a, 11 a shown in FIG. 5 are arranged. The framesconstituting the frame-line collection images 10 a, 11 a are put in alog-scale arrangement that narrows gaps between the frames exponentiallyfrom the inside toward the outside of the frame collection images.

If each frame line of the frame-line collection images 10 a, 11 a is putin such a log-scale arrangement, touching a frame line becomes easy uponcarrying out the page moving from a currently open page to a target pagenot so far from the open page.

Actual operation of paging forward or paging backward turns out the pagemoving over a few pages in many cases. A greater number of total pagesleads to a greater number of frame lines, which makes an accurate touchto a destination page difficult when the page moving over a couple ofpages is carried out.

As shown in FIG. 5, however, when the frames constituting the frame-linecollection images 10 a, 11 a are put in the log-scale arrangement thatnarrows gaps between the frames exponentially from the inside, where apage close to an open page is specified, toward the outside, where apage far from the open page is specified, of the frame collectionimages, touching a frame line of a page becomes easier as the pagebecomes closer to the open page. This contributes to the improvement ofoperability.

In actual operation of paging forward or paging backward, paging forwardor paging backward from a page substantially close to a target page iscarried out first, and then the target page in close proximity isspecified. The log-scale arrangement allows a user to execute the pagingoperation at page-to-page operational intervals that correspond to suchan actual operation of paging forward or paging backward, thus offersimproved usability.

According to the image processing apparatus 1 described above, a pagestructure image showing the page structure of a finished image isdisplayed only in the form of the frame-line collection images. The pagestructure image, however, is not limited only to the form of theframe-line collection images, but may be displayed, for example, in theform as shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 exhibits an expected finished image 30showing spread two pages, frame-line collection images 31 a, 31 bdisplayed at both lateral sides of the expected finished image 30, and aguide scale 32 for executing operation of specifying a target page. Theguide scale 32 is made by the image processing unit 5, and is displayedunder the frame-line collection images 31 a, 31 b.

The guide scale 32 includes a current-page specifying scale 32 a forspecifying the current page, which current-page specifying scale 32 a isdisplayed at the lateral center of the guide scale 32, a plurality ofpaging-forward specifying scales 32 b for specifying a page for pagingforward, and a plurality of paging-backward specifying scales 32 c forspecifying a page for paging backward, the paging-forward andpaging-backward specifying scales 32 b, 32 c being displayed at bothsides of the current-page specifying scale 32 a. The paging-forward andpaging-backward specifying scales 32 b, 32 c are provided as scales fordirectly specifying each page when the total page number of the finishedimage 30 is small. When the total page number of the finished image 30is great, on the other hand, one page is assigned as the page movingnumber to the paging-forward specifying scale 32 b closest to thecurrent-page specifying scale 32 a, and to a paging-backward specifyingscale 32 c closest to the current-page specifying scale 32 a to carryout paging forward or paging backward by only one page to the next pageor to the previous page. To the paging-forward specifying scales 32 band paging-backward specifying scales 32 c further outside to thecurrent-page specifying scale 32 a, however, not one page is assignedbut a plurality of pages are assigned. For example, the number of pagesto assign is determined to be 2, 10, etc. in consideration of the totalpage number of the finished image 30 and operability in specifying apage.

The displayed guide scale 32 allows a user to specify a target page bytouching a specific spot on the guide scale 32. When a page is specifiedon the guide scale 32, the control unit 2 reads a specified page of thefinished image showing spread two pages from the image storing unit 4,and displays the specified page on the display screen 7 a. In addition,the control unit 2 sends target page information to the image processingunit 5, causing the image processing unit 5 to remake the image of theguide scale 32 into a new image of the guide scale 32 having therestructured scale arrangement of the paging-forward specifying scales32 b and paging-backward specifying scales 32 c, the scale arrangementbeing restructured based on the position of the target page in theoverall page structure of the finished image. The remade guide scale 32is displayed on the display screen 7 a.

The arrangement of the paging-forward and paging-backward specifyingscales 32 b, 32 c of the guide scale 32 is not limited to the equalinterval arrangement of each scale. The scales may be put in a log-scalearrangement as shown in FIG. 5, where scale gaps become wider as thescales come closer to the current-page specifying scale 32 a, whilebecomes narrower as the scale become farther away from the current-pagespecifying scale 32 a.

This log-scale arrangement facilitates page specifying operation on thepaging-forward specifying scale 32 b and paging-backward specifyingscale 32 c for a page close to a currently open page.

In another method of display, the color of the paging-forward forwardand paging-backward specifying scales 32 b, 32 c may be changed when thepage moving from a displayed page is carried out.

This facilitates understanding of the page arrangement indicated by thepaging-forward and paging-backward specifying scales 32 b, 32 c.

A page structure image showing the page structure of a finished image isnot limited to the form of the frame-line collection images and theguide scale 32, but may be displayed, for example, in the form as shownin FIG. 7. FIG. 7 exhibits the guide scale 32 operating in such a waythat when a page specifying operation (touch operation) is carried outon any one of the scales 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, a destination page, which isspecified by a page assigned to one of the scales 32 a, 32 b, 32 c wherethe page specifying operation is carried out, is displayed incharacters. In FIG. 7, one of the paging-forward specifying scales 32 bon the guide scale 32 is displayed as a selected scale P. When a pagespecifying operation is carried out on one of the paging-forwardspecifying scales 32 b, “destination: page 10” is displayed as characterinformation notifying a destination page specified by such a selectedscale.

The paging operation using the guide scale 32 is carried out in thefollowing manner.

When the touch panel on the guide scale 32 on the display screen 7 a istouched, the number of pages for paging forward or paging backward or apage number to the total page number of the finished image 30 (displayinstance shown in FIG. 6) is displayed according to a touch position.When the touch position on the touch panel on the guide scale 32 ismoved to the left/right while contact with the panel is maintained, theimage processing apparatus 1 changes the number of pages displayed infigures according to the touch position (specifying position) on theguide scale 32 changing in response to the movement of the touchposition. Thus, a page displayed in figures represents a target page.

When a user removes his or her finger from the touch panel, the controlunit 2 reads a page of the finished image at the target page out of theimage storing unit 4, and displays the read page of the finished imageas the finished image 30 on the display screen 7 a.

As described above, the image processing apparatus 1 changes the numberof pages displayed in figures according to the touch position(specifying position) on the guide scale 32 changing in response to themovement of the touch position when the touch position on the touchpanel on the guide scale 32 is moved to the left/right while the contactwith the panel is maintained. On the other hand, when the touch positionis not moved and kept stopped for a preset stand-by time, the controlunit 2 judges the stopped touch position to be a position for specifyinga destination page, and changes a screen display from a state shown inFIG. 7 to a state shown in FIG. 8. Specifically, upon recognizing a pagespecified at the stopped position as a target page, the control unit 2reads a page of the finished image at the target page out of the imagestoring unit 4, and displays the read page of the finished image as thefinished image 30 on the display screen 7 a. At the same time, thecontrol unit 2 changes the display of the frame-line collection images31 a, 31 b and the guide scale 32 into a display according to the pagemoving to the target page. When the touch position on the touch panel onthe guide scale 32 is moved to the left/right without releasing thecontact with the panel to be brought to a stop and the display of thefinished image 30 is changed according to the destination page specifiedat the stopped position, the image processing apparatus 1 also changesthe display of the guide scale 32 into such a display that the scales 32b, 32 c enabling the page moving per page are arranged at the left/rightof the guide scale center to which the destination page is assigned.This change is made to enable the page moving at short intervals fromthe destination page at the center.

The above arrangement allows a user to execute continuous pagespecifying operation smoothly while checking the finished image 30 toappear, thus offers further improved usability.

According to the description made so far, the image processing unit 5generates pages of finished images in advance for images of all pages ofprocess subject data (document image data) stored in the image storingunit 4, and stored the pages of finished images in the image storingunit 4. When a page is specified, the control unit 2 reads a page of thefinished image out of the image storing unit 4, and displays the readpage of the finished image on the display screen 7 a of the displayoperating unit 7. Finished image making is, however, not limited topremaking of all pages of the finished image. For example, in anotherfinished image making process, only the finished image of a pagedisplayed in an initial state is generated first and is stored in theimage storing unit 4. Afterward, when a page is specified, the controlunit 2 causes the image processing unit 5 to generate a finished imageof the specified target page, places the finished image in storage inthe image storing unit 4, and then displays the finished image on thedisplay screen 7 a of the display operating unit 7.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the hardware configuration of the imageprocessing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The imageprocessing apparatus 1 is constructed as an MFP having multiplefunctions of faxing, scanning, etc. As shown in FIG. 9, the imageprocessing apparatus 1 includes a controller 1101, and an engine unit1102, which are interconnected via a peripheral component interconnect(PCI) bus. The controller 1101 controls the overall operation of theimage processing apparatus 1, and also controls graphic performance,communication, and input from an operating unit 1120. The engine unit1102 is such a printer engine connectible to the PCI bus as black/whiteplotter, 1-drum color plotter, 4-drum color plotter, scanner, or faxunit. In addition to an engine portion, such as plotter, the engine unit1102 also includes an image processing portion serving for errordiffusion or gamma conversion.

The controller 1101 has a CPU 1111, a system memory (MEM-P) 1112, anorth bridge (NB) 1113, a south bridge (SB) 1114, anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 1116, a local memory(MEM-C) 1117, and a hard disc drive (HDD) 1118. The NB 1113 is connectedto the ASIC 1116 via an accelerated graphics port (AGP) bus 1115. TheMEM-P 1112 has a ROM 1112 a, and a RAM 1112 b.

The CPU 1111 executes general control over the image processingapparatus 1, and has a chip set composed of the NB 1113, the MEM-P 1112,and the SB 1114. The CPU 1111 is connected to other units via the chipset.

The NB 1113 is a bridge that connects the CPU 1111 to the MEM-P 1112, tothe SB 1114, and to the AGP bus 1115. The NB 1113 has a memorycontroller controlling reading/writing on the MEM-P 1112, a PCI master,and an AGP target.

The MEM-P 1112 is a system memory used for storing programs and data,for developing programs and data, for graphic operation by a printer,etc. The MEM-P 1112 consists of the ROM 1112 a, and the RAM 1112 b. TheROM 1112 a is a read-only memory used for storing programs and data thatcontrols the operation of the CPU 1111. The RAM 1112 b is areadable/writable memory used for developing programs and data, forgraphic operation by a printer, etc.

The SB 1114 is a bridge that connects the NB 1113 to PCI devices andperipheral devices. The SB 1114 is connected to the NB 1113 via the PCIbus, to which a network interface (I/F) unit is connected.

The ASIC 1116 is an integrated circuit (IC) for use in image processing,and has a hardware element for image processing. The ASIC 1116 plays arole as a bridge that interconnects the AGP bus 1115, the PCI bus, theHDD 1118, and the MEM-C 1117. The ASIC 1116 includes a PCI target, anAGP master, an arbiter (ARB) constituting the kernel of the ASIC 1116, amemory controller that controls the MEM-C 1117, a plurality of directmemory access controllers (DMACs) that rotate image data using ahardware logic, and a PCI unit that executes data transfer between thePCI unit and the engine unit 1102 via the PCI bus. The ASIC 1116 isconnected to a fax control unit (FCU) 1121, to a universal serial bus(USB) 1122, and to an IEEE 1394 (the Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers 1394) I/F 1123 via the PCI bus.

The MEM-C 1117 is a local memory used as an image buffer for copying andas a code buffer. The HDD 1118 is a storage that accumulates image data,programs controlling the operation of the CPU 1111, font data, andforms.

The AGP bus 1115 is a bus I/F for a graphic accelerator card that isproposed to speed up graphic processes. The AGP bus 1115 provides directaccess to the MEM-P 1112 at high throughput to allow high-speedperformance of the graphic accelerator card.

The operating unit 1120 connected to the ASIC 1116 receives operationalinput from an operator, and sends information of the receivedoperational input to the ASIC 1116.

An image displaying program and an image forming program executed by theimage processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment are preinstalledin the ROM, etc., and are provided for execution.

The image displaying program and image forming program executed by theimage processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment may be recordedon a computer-readable recording medium, such as a CR-ROM, a flexibledisc (FD), a CD-R, or a digital versatile disc (DVD), as a file in aninstallable format or an executable format, and be provided forexecution.

The image displaying program and image forming program executed by theimage processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment may be stored ina computer connected to a network, such the Internet, and be downloadedvia the network for execution. The image displaying program and imageforming program executed by the image processing apparatus 1 of thepresent invention may be provided or distributed via a network, such asthe Internet.

The image processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is of amodule structure that includes each unit described above (control unit2, image reading unit 3, image storing unit 4, image processing unit 5,printing unit 6, and display operating unit 7.) As the CPU (processor)reads the image displaying program and image forming program out of theROM and executes the programs, each unit is loaded into the main memoryto generate the control unit 2, image reading unit 3, image storing unit4, image processing unit 5, printing unit 6, and display operating unit7 in the main memory.

According to the first embodiment, the image processing apparatus 1 ofthe present invention is provided in the form of a compound machinecalled MFP, but the form of the image processing apparatus 1 in apractical application is not limited to such a compound machine. Variouseffects equal to the effects described above can be obtained by, forexample, connecting an image forming device, such as printer, to apersonal computer (PC), and installing a given program in a memory unit,such as an HDD, of the PC, then causing the CPU of the PC to operateaccording to the installed program.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a schematic structural example of aprinting system 100 according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention. The printing system 100 shown in FIG. 10 includes a PC 101that sends out a print job including print data and print conditions forprinting out the print data, a printer 102 that prints the print data,and a cable 103 that connects the PC 101 to the printer 102.

The PC 101 sends print data corresponding to a prepared document andprint condition data set for printing of the document (paper direction,double-side, combining, bookbinding, stapling, punching, zoom, etc.),both data being sent as a print job, to the printer 102.

The printer 102 prints out the print data according to the print jobsent from the PC 101. Specifically, the printer 102 prints out the printdata included in the print job on a medium, such as paper, according tothe print condition data included in the print job (paper direction,double-side, combining, bookbinding, stapling, punching, zoom, etc.).

The specific constitution of the PC 101 and of the printer 102 will nowbe described in order.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the schematic structure of the PC 101. Asshown in FIG. 11, the PC 101 includes an input unit 111 for data input,a communication unit 113 for data communication, a CPU 114 that executescontrol over the entire part of the PC 101, a RAM 115 that is used as awork area for the CPU 114, a recording-medium access unit 116 thatwrites and reads data in and out of a recording medium 117, and therecording medium 117 that stores various programs for operating the CPU114.

The input unit 111 includes a keyboard having cursor key, numericalinput keys, various functional keys, etc., and a mouse or slice pad forselecting a key on the display screen of a display unit 112. The inputunit 111 is a user I/F for a user to give the CPU 114 an operationalcommand or input data.

The display unit 112 consists of a CRT or LCD, and makes displayaccording to display data input from the CPU 114. The communication unit113 handles data communication with external equipment, and executesdata communication, for example, with the printer 102, etc. via thecable 103.

The CPU 114 is a central control unit that controls the entire part ofthe PC 101 according to programs stored in the recording medium 117. TheCPU 114 is connected to the input unit 111, to the display unit 112, tothe communication unit 113, to the RAM 115, and to the recording-mediumaccess unit 116. The CPU 114 controls data communication, readout of anapplication program through access to a memory or reading/writing ofvarious data, data/command input, display, etc. The CPU 114 sends printdata input from the input unit 111 and print condition data for theprint data, both data being sent as a print job, to the printer 102 viathe communication unit 113.

The RAM 115 has a work memory that stores a specified program, an inputinstruction, input data, a process result, etc, and a display memorythat temporarily stores display data to be put out on the display screenof the display unit 112.

The recording medium 117 stores various programs and data including anOS program 117 a (e.g. WINDOWS™, etc.) that can be executed by the CPU114, a document-creation application program 117 b, and a printer driver117 c operable on the printer 102. The recording medium 117 includes,for example, an optical, magnetic, or electric recording medium, such asan FD, an HD, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a magneto-optical (MO) disk, and a PCcard. The various programs are put in a data format readable to the CPU114, and are stored in the recording medium 117. The programs arerecorded beforehand on the recording medium in some cases, or aredownloaded via a communication line and are stored in the recordingmedium in other cases. The programs can be distributed via thecommunication line.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram to the schematic structure of the printer102. As shown in FIG. 12, the printer 102 includes a communication unit121 that executes data communication, a CPU 122 that executes controlover the whole of the printer 102, a ROM 123 that stores various controlprograms for running the CPU 122, a RAM 124 that temporarily storesprint data and print condition data included in a print job, which isinput from a work area for the various control programs, from the PC101, etc., a printer engine 125 that prints the print data on a transferpaper, a stapling unit 126 that staples papers bearing printed printdata, and a punching unit 127 that punches a hole on the transfer paperbearing the printed print data. The printer 102 has a double-sidefunction, a punching function, a stapling function, etc.

The communication unit 121 handles data communication with externalequipment, and, for example, communicates with the PC 101 through dataexchange.

The CPU 122 is a central control unit that controls the entire part ofthe printer 102 according to the various control programs stored in theROM 123. The CPU 122 is connected to the communication unit 121, to theROM 123, to the RAM 124, to the printer engine 125, to the stapling unit126, and to the punching unit 127. The CPU 122 controls datacommunication, printer operation, etc.

The ROM 123 stores the various control programs for running the CPU 122,parameters used for processes by the control programs, etc. The RAM 124has a work memory that stores a specified control program, a processresult, received print data, etc.

The printer engine 125 is a printer engine employing anelectrophotographic method, which is a unit that prints print data on atransfer paper. The printer 102 may employ various printing methodsother than the electrophotographic method, such as ink-jet method,sublimation-type heat transfer method, silver salt photographic method,direct thermographic method, and melt-type heat transfer method.

The printer driver 117 c is a software program that is so designed thata program can be run relative to a specific program on the printer 102without being troubled with the hardware and/or internal language of theprinter 102. The printer driver 117 c controls the printer 102, andexecutes output data processing, etc.

Pursuant to the printer driver 117 c, the CPU 114 of the PC 101 executessuch operations as generation and display of an expected finished imageon the basis of print data and print condition data for the print data,both data being input from the input unit 111, and transfer of printdata made by the document-creation application program 117 b to theprinter 102.

As the CPU 114 operates in pursuant to the printer driver 117 c, the PC101 comes to have the control unit 2, the image storing unit 4, theimage processing unit 5, the printing unit 6, and the display operatingunit 7, as shown in FIG. 13.

The PC 101, therefore, comes to have the same system configuration asthat of the image processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 to offer thesame various effects as explained in the first embodiment when the CPU114 operates in pursuant to the printer driver 117 c.

FIG. 14 is a front view of one example of a display screen produced bythe printer driver 117 c. The screen shown in FIG. 14 is a screen thatis displayed when the start of the printer driver 117 c is selected on adisplay screen of the document-creation application program 117 b, thestart screen of the OS program 117 a, etc. The screen shown in FIG. 14allows a selection of a preview setting screen 7 b (equivalent to thedisplay screen 7 a of the display operating unit 7 of the imageprocessing apparatus 1) for generating/displaying an expected finishedimage based on print data and print condition data for the print data,both data being sent from the input unit 111, in addition to a selectionof a basic condition setting screen, an editing condition settingscreen, a finishing condition setting screen, etc.

According to the present embodiment, operation of the CPU 114 of the PC101 in pursuant to the printer driver 117 c results in display of thepreview setting screen 7 b for generating/displaying an expectedfinished image based on print data and print condition data for theprint data, both data being sent from the input unit 111. The way ofdisplaying the preview setting screen 7 b, however, is not limited tothe above case. The preview setting screen 7 b may be displayed byoperating the CPU 114 of the PC 101 in pursuant to the document-creationapplication program 117 b or the OS program 117 a.

While the present invention provided by the inventor has been describedin detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, the abovedescription is not intended to limit the present invention. Variousmodifications of the embodiments will be possible as far as themodifications fall within the true scope of the invention.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a specificembodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims arenot to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying allmodifications and alternative constructions that may occur to oneskilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein setforth.

1. An image processing apparatus, comprising: a finished-imagegenerating unit that generates a finished image showing a result of aprocess performed on a target image according to various functionsetting items; a finished-image display unit that, when the target imageextends to a plurality of pages, forms the finished image in a stack,and displays the stacked finished image, including a first page imageand a second page image displayed side by side, on a display unit withat least one page structure image that shows an overall page structureof the stacked finished image, wherein the at least one page structureimage includes first and second frame-line collection images, eachincluding a collection of a predetermined number of adjacent frame linesrepresenting a predetermined number of pages in proportion to a totalnumber of pages of the finished image, at a periphery of the first andsecond page images, respectively, wherein the first frame-linecollection image includes first adjacent frame lines arranged in a firstdirection and the second frame-line collection image includes secondadjacent frame lines arranged in a second direction different from thefirst direction; and a page moving unit that, when one of the pagesrepresented in the at least one page structure image is specified via anoperating unit, executes a page moving operation from a page currentlydisplayed on the display unit to the specified page wherein the pagestructure image is a guide scale image provided with a predeterminednumber of scales representing number of pages in a predeterminedproportion to a total page number of pages of the finished image, andthe page moving unit executes, when one of the scales on the guide scaleimage is specified via the operating unit, the page moving from a pagecurrently displayed on the display unit to a page corresponding to thespecified scale.
 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the finished-image generating unit generates a page-movedfinished image indicating that the page moving operation has beenperformed for the finished image, and the finished-image display unitforms the page-moved finished image in a stack, and displays thefinished image and the stacked page-moved finished image on the displayunit along with the at least one page structure image that shows anoverall page structure of the stacked page-moved finished image.
 3. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processexecuted on the target image according to the various function settingitems is a series of processes including an image process, a process ofrecording a processed image on a recording medium, and a post-process onthe recording medium on which the image is recorded.
 4. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the page moving unitexecutes, when one of the frame lines in one of the frame-linecollection images is specified via the operating unit, the page movingfrom a page currently displayed on the display unit to a pagecorresponding to the specified frame line.
 5. The image processingapparatus according to claim 4, wherein each of the frame-linecollection images represents the total page number of the finished imagein a form of a line segment image that extends in a predetermineddirection at the periphery of the first and second page images,respectively.
 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4,wherein the frame lines in the frame-line collection images are arrangedin a log-scale that narrows intervals between the adjacent frame linesexponentially from inside toward outside of the frame-line collectionimages.
 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe scales on the guide scale image are arranged in a log-scale thatnarrows intervals between adjacent scales exponentially from insidetoward outside of the guide scale image.
 8. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein upon executing the page movingfrom the page currently displayed on the display unit to the specifiedpage, the finished-image display unit restructures the at least one pagestructure image to give the at least one page structure image a new pagestructure indicating a new overall page structure of the finished imageafter the page moving, and displays the restructured at least one pagestructure image on the display unit.
 9. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein upon executing the page moving from thepage currently displayed on the display unit to the specified page, thefinished-image display unit displays destination page information on adestination page on the display unit.
 10. A non-transitory computerreadable medium storing a computer readable program that, when executedby a computer causes the computer to execute the steps of: generating afinished image showing a result of a process performed on a target imageaccording to various function setting items; finished-image displayingincluding, when the target image extends to a plurality of pages,forming the finished image in a stack; and displaying the stackedfinished image, including a first page image and a second page imagedisplayed side by side, on a display unit with at least one pagestructure image that shows an overall page structure of the stackedfinished image wherein the page structure image is a guide scale imageprovided with a predetermined number of scales representing number ofpages in a predetermined proportion to a total page number of pages ofthe finished image, wherein the at least one page structure imageincludes first and second frame-line collection images, each including acollection of a predetermined number of adjacent frame linesrepresenting a predetermined number of pages in proportion to a totalnumber of pages of the finished image, at a periphery of the first andsecond page images, respectively, wherein the first frame-linecollection image includes first adjacent frame lines arranged in a firstdirection, and the second frame-line collection image includes secondadjacent frame lines arranged in a second direction different from thefirst direction; and executing, when one of the pages represented in theat least one page structure image is specified via an operating unit, apage moving operation from a page currently displayed on the displayunit to the specified page; and executing one of the scales on the guidescale image is specified via the operating unit, the page moving from apage currently displayed on the display unit to a page corresponding tothe specified scale.